Proportion of CD56+3+ T cells in decidual and peripheral lymphocytes of normal pregnancy and spontaneous abortion with and without history of recurrent abortion.

PROBLEM: The present study investigated the proportion of CD56+3+ T cells in maternal peripheral and decidual lymphocytes in normal pregnancy and spontaneous abortion with and without history of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).

METHOD OF STUDY: Maternal peripheral blood and decidua were taken from normal pregnancies and missed abortions with and without RSA. Decidual lymphocytes were prepared from decidual tissue and analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

In normal pregnancy, the percentages of CD56+3+ T cells in decidual lymphocytes did not differ from those in the peripheral blood. However, the proportion of CD56+3+ T cells in decidual CD3+ T cells increased higher than that in the peripheral CD3+ T cells. The percentages of decidual CD56+3+ T cells in missed abortions with and without RSA were lower than those in normal pregnancies.

CONCLUSION

CD56+3+ T cells may play a role in the maintenance of pregnancy. The phenomenon, where the proportion of CD56+3+ T cells in decidual lymphocytes decreases, may be due to an immunologic event leading to missed abortion.